THE ‘TSINGANI’ OF MANDIA & THE ‘GURUBETS’
A DISPERSED ETHNIC GROUP
The term ‘Roma’ mainly encompasses various sub-groups of people across the world who share a distinct way of life. This includes a nomadic lifestyle and unique music and craftsmanship that only they possess. Although several ethnic groups associate with the Roma way of life, several of these people mostly originate from the northern regions of India, making them immediately distinguishable within the communities that they inhabit. These particular Roma people began to arrive in Europe at the start of the 6th century. Their most concentrated populations today are located in Central, Eastern and Southern Europe.
TRADITIONS, LANGUAGE & CUSTOMS
The Roma people of Cyprus have held onto their own traditions, language and customs on the island for centuries. Although their numbers were boosted after a large influx of Roma settlers following the Ottoman conquest of the island in 1571, their communities remained small. These often dispersed ethnic groups, that largely remained nomadic, were large enough, however, to make an impact on everyday Cypriot life. They were known for specialised skills like tinning, metalwork, and seasonal agriculture. They were also avid horse-rearing people who were instrumental in equine development across the island.
SEPARATED BY FAITH & LANGUAGE
The Roma communities of Cyprus, who were largely culturally and traditionally itinerant, largely gave up their nomadic lifestyles after settling across the island. They then set about integrating further into Cypriot society. They were broadly split into two distinct cultural and linguistic groups after this. Those who embraced Christianity became known as the ‘Tsingani of Mandia’. They were mainly Greek speakers who integrated with Greek Cypriots. Those who adopted the Muslim faith became known as ‘Gurubets’. They were mainly Turkish speakers who integrated with Turkish Cypriots.
THE TSINGANI OF MANDIA
The ‘Tsingani of Mandia’ can only be found in the south of the island today. Although they are fully integrated into greater Greek Cypriot society, they still maintain some of their unique customs and speak Romani, or a harsh version of Gurubet, as a second language. Although the majority of these people lived in the south of the island throughout the ages, they also maintained small communities further north. One of these communities established a church dedicated to St. George of Mandia in an area that was known as Mandochori at the time. Today, this area is known as the Ayioi Omologites suburb of the City of Nicosia. The Tsingani of Mandia were regarded as the best tinsmiths on the island and were especially known for their high skill and intricate, unique designs.
THE GURUBETS
Gurubet derives from the Turkish word ‘Gurbet’, which translates to ‘foreign’. Today, this very small number of Muslim Roma can only be found in the north of the island. Although they are fully integrated into greater Turkish Cypriot society, they also still maintain some of their unique customs. The subtle, unique features and intricate customs that make these people unique are further compounded by the specific Turkish Cypriot dialect that they still freely use. This unique linguistic variety, which is known as ‘Gurubetsia’, is formed mainly from Turkish, but borrows several words from Arabic, Persian, Kurdish, Greek and Armenian. Throughout the ages, these people were regarded as the best horse-rearing people across the island.
SIGNIFICANT SOCIAL & ECONOMIC CHALLENGES
The ‘Chronicle of Cyprus’, compiled by Florio Bustron, states that a group of ‘Tsingani’ with Greek-sounding names, paid taxes to the royal treasury during the reign of the last Lusignan king, James II. Despite these contributions, they, along with the ‘Gurubets’, frequently faced significant social and economic challenges. Discrimination and stigma were prevalent, leading to marginalisation in several aspects of their lives. Many lived at the time in impoverished conditions, often lacking access to basic education, healthcare, and employment.
A CHANGE OF FORTUNES
The Venetian era on the island eventually brought acceptance of the mostly Christian ‘Tsingani’. The muslim ‘Gurubets’, however, were still viewed with a great deal of suspicion. They were often accused of spying or aligning themselves with the Ottomans, who were the main threat to the island at the time. This led to severe persecution, and many were exiled from the island, drastically reducing their numbers at the time. The Ottoman Generals, who led the occupation forces of Cyprus in 1570, regarded the Gurubets as crucial to their plans. They included contingents of exiled ‘Gurubets’ in the ranks of their invasion force, and they provided crucial intelligence and geographical knowledge for the Ottoman conquest, which was complete by 1571. Their fortunes, however, drastically changed after the Ottomans took control of the island, when they once again became a scorned minority.
AN UNRIVALLED CRAFTMANSHIP
According to several references from the 16th and 17th centuries, both Roma communities on the island were by now mainly settled across the island. Both communities often collaborated, and they did this mainly through trade and the arts, which included music. The ‘Tsingani’ by this time had adapted and were mainly engaged in the trading of horses. They were also excellent blacksmiths, metal, wood and textile workers. Their craftsmanship on the island was unrivalled, and they often produced intricate handmade goods that they sold across the island. Their designs reflected a blend of traditional Roma motifs that were incorporated into local designs. This created a unique cultural fusion that enriched Cypriot artistic expression. The ‘Gurubets’, on the other hand, were mainly involved in farming activities. Most were engaged in wholesale domesticated animal trading. Unlike the Tsingani, they also still had a small community that travelled throughout the island. Aligning more with their traditional way of life, these people were mainly storytellers, newsreaders and fortune-tellers.
MUSIC & DANCE
Both communities made significant cultural contributions to the island’s heritage. Their influence was particularly evident in their music and dance. Traditional Roma music, characterised by its vibrant melodies and rhythms, was incorporated with elements from various cultures that they had interacted with over several years. Musicians from both communities often performed during local festivities, blending their unique sound with Cypriot folk traditions.
GREEK OR TURKISH?
When Cyprus became a British colony, British administrators considered all ethnic minorities on the island as either Greek or Turkish Cypriot. This included both the ‘Tsingani’ and the ‘Gurubets’, along with other specific groups, such as the Maronite and Armenian ethnic groups. The ‘Tsingani’ were considered Greek Cypriot, whilst the ‘Gurubets’ were considered Turkish Cypriot, and both communities were described as such.
A ROMA VILLAGE
THE GURUBET VILLAGE OF FALEIA
Writings by David George Hogath focus on the village of Faleia in 1888. After he visited this village, located at the spur of a mountain beneath Ayios Photios in the Paphos District, he described it as extremely unique. He stated that although the village was considered a Turkish Cypriot village, its inhabitants were certainly not of Turkish origin. This was because this village was exclusively inhabited by Turkish-speaking ‘Gurubets’ at the time. David George Hogath stated that no other village on the island displayed the same peculiar type of people, stating that these villagers were different in character, appearance, and costume. The village also seemed to display an equal pitch of freedom between men and women, which at the time was unheard of. It was also noted that, although of the Muslim faith, the women who wore a profusion of gold ornaments about their persons removed their veils to accost and speak openly to strangers in the company of men. He also recorded that the faces of these villagers were also of extreme swarthiness, and each had impressive locks of raven black hair. Their brilliant dark eyes were enhanced by their fine, narrow noses and taut lips, and they had smaller ears by comparison.
SEPERATED & LONG DEPARTED
Today, the village of Faleia lies abandoned. The majority of its inhabitants departed the village after the war and subsequent division of the island in 1974. The war meant that all of the ‘Gurubets’ in the south moved to the north, and any ‘Tsingani’ in the north eventually resettled to the south. This helped to confirm their respective affiliations to both the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities that they became a part of. Today, there are approximately 4000 people of Roma descent living in Cyprus. Although most have created permanent communities in several areas of the island, they remain a highly marginalised and often invisible group that lacks a distinct, recognised ethnic minority status.
